Your Chance to Run on a Runway

Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways? Why do we land on runways? According to Business Lexington, your chance to set things straight for once is coming on June 13th from 2-5 pm.

The city of Lexington Lexington, KY, has been working to promote community fitness and hosts a monthly "2nd Sunday" event where everyone is invited to walk, run, bike or engage in other physical activities together. It just so happens that Lexington's Blue Grass Airport (KLEX) has a new 4,000 ft runway almost complete. They're going to open that runway to the public on the 13th so they can have a chance to enjoy it before it enters service. (Don't worry, commercial and other air traffic can still use the airport's other 7,000 ft long runway during the event.)

What a great idea!

We're worried about the pilot population declining and more and more people complaining about airport noise. A lot of people are scared of airports nowadays with all the fences, barbed wire, security checkpoints, etc. This is a perfect opportunity to get people interested in aviation and more comfortable with airports. Realizing what an opportunity this is, the even organizers are also planning on having airplanes, helicopters and rescue vehicles on display on the runway during the event.

I once flew at an airport that shut down one of its runways every year and hosted a foot race. It was a fun time, and a very unique experience. If you live anywhere near Lexington, I'd definitely recommend making the trip for this event.

Congratulations to 2nd Sunday Kentucky and the administrators of Blue Grass Airport. A few more events like this around the country and we might start gaining some public support for general aviation. We'll take as much of that as we can get!